This year – Sharma Oral Surgery wants to provide school supplies to three teachers in the South Charlotte area! We recognize the hard work these educators put in each year and we want to thank them for all that they do.

Between now and August 24th, we would like you all to nominate a deserving teacher. Who is a deserving teacher? Someone who goes above and beyond, someone who has made a difference in your child’s life or even your life, or even just an outstanding teacher you know!

We will carefully go through each submission and select three winners on the first day back to school, August 27th, and deliver their basket of goodies.

Today - being national fresh breath day, we wanted to share some tips on what may be causing bad breath and how to treat and prevent it from coming back!

Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, can result from poor oral health habits and could even be a sign of other health problems. If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This also applies to dentures – odor causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if not properly cleaned.

Persistent bad breath could be a sign of gum disease – which is caused by a buildup of plaque on teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can damage the gums and the jaw bone.

What are the best ways to prevent bad breath?- Practice good oral hygiene- See your dentist regularly- Quit smoking and using tobacco related products- DRINK WATER, a lot of it- Keep track of what you eat, your dentist can help see if part of your diet is causing the bad breath

When wisdom teeth removal gets brought up, what generally comes to mind? Getting your wisdom teeth taken out for many young adults has become the norm. Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars develop between 17 and 25 years old. Read a few fun key pieces of information about wisdom teeth.

Fun Facts

Wisdom teeth get their nickname because of the time they develop. Today we don't require wisdom teeth in order to survive, which is why we are able to get them removed. Did you know that in 35% of today’s population wisdom teeth don't even appear? There is a lot of history behind wisdom teeth. In-fact it's believed by biological anthropologists that the duty of wisdom teeth was to grind down high fiber foods such as roots, leaves, nuts and meats that were regularly consumed by prehistoric humans as a part of their diet.

Is It a Must to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?

According to AAOMS, also known as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, it will be necessary for 85% of today’s population to get their wisdom teeth removed. Although you may think there is no urgency or need to get your wisdom teeth removed, there are in-fact several reasons as to why you should. For example:

Impacted Wisdom TeethWisdom teeth live embedded in your gums. If teeth are unable to emerge properly, they'll eventually be impacted into the jaw. This could result in multiple things like infection, affected bone support, or even the ability for a cyst to form, which is harmful to the roots of your other teeth.

Partially Erupted Wisdom TeethPartially erupted wisdom teeth will make it more difficult to keep the tooth and surrounding teeth properly clean. This can allow bacteria to become trapped, which can cause an oral infection or gum disease.

Although it's recommended to get your wisdom teeth removed, if your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully erupted, properly cleaned to continue great oral hygiene and are in the correct position, it's okay to live with your wisdom teeth.

When it's time to get your wisdom teeth removed contact Sharma Oral Surgery located in South Charlotte. Call 704.541.6070 and consult with a professional today; one of our skilled team members will be happy to answer any questions.

Wisdom teeth are located in the back of your mouth behind molars. They are considered to be a part of our distant past, meaning they were useful for our ancestors who ate foods that were more difficult to chew.

As we evolved and our diet changed, the need for wisdom teeth became unnecessary. As a result, wisdom teeth often grow in crooked, sideways, or otherwise misaligned. When growing in, they can push on other teeth, causing problems of overcrowding and misalignment, not to mention pain, infection, and even nerve damage.

Some symptoms of wisdom teeth include:

Pain in the back of the mouth, behind molars. The pain generally increases as the teeth grow in especially if they are misaligned or sideways. Misaligned teeth can cause nerve pain, bone damage, and pain for the surrounding teeth.

Redness, swelling, and tenderness around tooth site. This makes it especially difficult to eat.

Oral infection. Bacteria can enter the site of tooth eruption causing an infection which can affect your overall health.

Impaction. When your jaw bone or neighboring teeth block the wisdom tooth from erupting, it can become “stuck”. This causes extreme pain, infection, and potential long-term damage.

Are you noticing shifted teeth or pain & soreness in the back of your mouth?

Call Sharma Oral Surgery and schedule a consultation. We will conduct a thorough examination of the area which may include x-rays or CT scan to determine whether you should have your wisdom teeth extracted. Don’t wait until you are in extreme pain, early intervention is key! The truth is, we really don’t need our wisdom teeth, so don’t put it off – call Dr. Sharma today!

Of all the ways modern dentistry has to replace missing teeth, dental implants are by far the best. There is no tooth-replacement option that will give you a longer-lasting result. Implants also help preserve tooth-supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Loss of bone is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.

A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root-part of a missing tooth. The surgical procedure used to place an implant is actually quite minor and routine, requiring only local anesthesia in most cases. After a healing period, the implant is topped with a lifelike crown custom-made to match your existing natural teeth. Implants have a documented success rate of over 95%, which is significantly higher than any other tooth-replacement option.

How Implants Work

During a minor surgical procedure, your dental implant is inserted directly into the jawbone in the space vacated by the missing tooth. It will then be left to heal for a period of months before the final crown is attached. During this healing period, the implant actually fuses to the bone surrounding it.

Tooth Replacement Options Using Dental Implants

Implants can replace missing teeth in a variety of ways. They can be used to:

Replace One Tooth

When you have one tooth missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of that tooth; a crown then goes on top to simulate an actual tooth. This treatment choice has the highest success rate, making it the best long-term investment for replacing a single missing tooth. Even if the initial cost is slightly higher than other options, it is the most cost-effective solution over time. An implant will never decay or need root canal treatment, and feels just like the tooth that was there.

Replace Multiple Teeth

When you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don't even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of the gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath. That way, you won't need to use any of your remaining natural teeth as bridge supports, which could weaken them and make them more susceptible to decay.

Replace All Teeth Permenatley

Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as 4 implants. It's comparable to the structure of a table, which only needs 4 legs to hold it up. In cases where jawbone density and volume have deteriorated, 5 or 6 implants might be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth. Dental implant replacement teeth protect your jawbone, won't slip, and should last a lifetime.

Support Removeable Dentures

Implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable, effective and healthier to wear. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the underlying bone. This accelerates bone loss so that the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. But today dentists can attach a removable denture onto implants, transferring that pressure into the bone structure rather than the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak, and preserves the bone directly beneath them.

Implant Care and Maintenance

There are only two ways an implant can lose attachment to the bone and fail once it has successfully fused: poor oral hygiene or excessive biting forces. Poor oral hygiene and/or a lack of regular cleanings can lead to a destructive bacterial infection called peri-implantitis. Flossing and brushing your teeth on a daily basis, along with regular professional cleanings, can prevent this. Excessive biting forces can come from either a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, or an insufficient number of implants to handle the forces generated by your bite. You should receive the correct number of implants so this does not happen. And if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, a nightguard will be recommended to protect your implants. After all, implants are a long-term investment in your smile, your health and your well-being, so it's best to protect your investment.

If you have any questions about dental implants or interested in seeing if this is the right treatment for you - please give us a call at 704-541-6070 to set up a consultation with Dr. Sharma.